Question
Do I need a new ISBN for the paperback if I already have one for the ebook?
asked by Zeal Publishing Team · 2026-07-31
This is the single most common question we get, so it goes first.
Someone finishes their ebook, buys an ISBN, then decides to do print — and assumes the number carries over.
Zeal Publishing Team
Yes, you need a separate one. An ISBN identifies a specific format, not a book. Ebook, paperback and hardcover each need their own. An audiobook needs its own too.
What does NOT need a new ISBN: fixing typos, changing the cover, or a price change. A substantially revised second edition does.
In the US, ISBNs come from Bowker. One costs $125, ten cost $295 — so if you expect more than one format, buy the block. KDP will give you a free ISBN, but it lists Amazon as the publisher of record and you can't take that number anywhere else. If you ever want bookstore distribution, buy your own.
2026-07-31
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